See-around type head mounted display device

• US 7,002,534 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Tae Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Henry N.
• Application Number:
  US10/214,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20030030596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7- 9, 348/115, 349/11, 359/13
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features

Abstract

A see-around type head mounted display device is disclosed, which includes a display panel displaying an image restored from an image record medium, and tilted bar prism optics (TBPO) internally reflecting the light emitted from the display panel in total, and generating an enlarged virtual image in front of an observer.

Claims

1. A head mounted display device comprising:

a display panel displaying an image restored from an image record medium;

a bar type prism having a first flat tilted surface, a second flat tilted surface, and a flat total internal reflection surface, the bar type prism reflecting light emitted from the display panel to an eye of an observer through the flat total internal reflection surface, the first flat tilted surface totally reflecting the light reflected from the flat total internal reflection surface to the eye of the observer through the flat total internal reflection surface; and

an eyepiece lens opposing the flat total internal reflection surface of the prism without inclination so as to display an enlarged virtual image in front of the observer.

2. The head mounted display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an air space is formed between the flat total internal reflection surface and the eyepiece lens.

3. The head mounted display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the first flat tilted surface opposes the eyepiece lens, and

the second flat tilted surface opposes the display panel, and controls an incident angle of the light for being incident the light emitted from the display panel on the flat total internal reflection surface.

4. The head mounted display device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second flat tilted surface has a tilted angle W2 to the flat total internal reflection surface, for being satisfied in an equation, sin⁻

1n<

Ψ

, with referring refractivity of the prism as ‘

n’

, and the incident angle of the light ‘

Ψ

’

.

5. The head mounted display device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first flat tilted surface has a tilted angle W1 to the flat total internal reflection surface which is determined by satisfying an equation, W1=W2/2, so as to prevent an enlarged image from being deteriorated.

6. The head mounted display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prism is formed of transparent material.

7. The head mounted display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the prism is formed of glass or plastic.

8. A head mounted display device comprising:

a pair of display panels respectively correspondent to the left and right eyes of an observer;

a signal processor controlling a signal applied to the display panel;

a bar type prism having a first flat tilted surface, a second flat tilted surface, and a flat total internal reflection surface, the bar type prism reflecting light emitted from the display panel to an eye of an observer through the flat total internal reflection surface, the first flat tilted surface totally reflecting the light reflected from the flat total internal reflection surface to the

eye of the observer through the flat total internal reflection surface; and

an eyepiece lens opposing the flat total internal reflection surface of the prism without inclination so as to display an enlarged virtual image in front of the observer.

9. The head mounted display as claimed in claim 8, wherein an air space is formed between the flat total internal reflection surface and the eyepiece lens.